A few Tuesday’s ago (May, 19th to be exact) we saw album releases from Busta Rhymes, Method Man/Redman, & of course, Eminem. This was so far the biggest release date of 2009. All three acts that I mentioned are veterans in the game and well respected by their peers. Another thing they have in common: They’re all over the age of 30. If you think about it, most of Hip-Hop’s elite are over the age of 30. I guess it’s no longer a young man’s game. So I was thinking, since you see a lot of lists with titles such as “25 Hottest Celebs Under 25” or “40 Richest Under 40”, why not The Best 30 Rappers Over 30? But for this list, we got set some ground rules. #1 of course is the most obvious; you gotta be over the age of 30 (That throws out people like Weezy, Lupe, Drake, & T.I.). #2, you have to be 30 as of this list (Both The Game & Joe Budden will be 30 this year, but aren’t as of yet). #3, you got to be active and releasing records with new material that’s relevant (Rakim & Big Daddy Kane are legends but they don’t make this list). Other than that, the only requirement is being 3-0 or older. So, here’s it: The Best 30 Rappers Over 30 (Ordered from oldest to youngest). 30 is the new 20! Did I forget anybody? (Update: Fabolous replaces Beanie Sigel)

Ice Cube (June 15, 1969) – 39
Jay-Z (December 4, 1969) – 39
Raekwon (January 12, 1970) – 39
Q-Tip (April 10, 1970) – 39
Redman (April 17, 1970) – 39
Ghostface Killah (May 9, 1970) – 39
Fat Joe (August 19, 1970) – 38
Scarface (November 9, 1970) – 38
DMX (December 18, 1970) – 38
Method Man (April 1, 1971) – 38
Snoop Dogg (October 20, 1971) – 37
Common (March 13, 1972) – 37
Busta Rhymes (May 20, 1972) – 37
Black Thought (October 3, 1972) – 36
Eminem (October 17, 1972) – 36
Bun B (March 19, 1973) – 36
Nas (September 14, 1973) – 35
Mos Def (December 11, 1973) – 35
Andre 3000 (May 27, 1974) – 35
Styles P (November 28, 1974) – 34
Big Boi (February 1, 1975) – 34
Jadakiss (May 27, 1975) – 34
50 Cent (July 6, 1975) – 33
Talib Kweli (October 3, 1975) – 33
Rick Ross (January 28, 1976) – 33
Cam’ron (February 4, 1976) – 33
Kanye West (June 8, 1977) – 31
Ludacris (September 11, 1977) – 31
Young Jeezy (October 12, 1977)- 31
Fabolous (November 18, 1977) – 31

This poll question isn’t a diss at Killa in any way. It’s just today the thought crossed my mind like, “Oh yeah, Cam IS back.” You remember when most of the Hip-Hop nation was asking the question “Where’s Cam?”. Now he’s returned with his first album in three years, Crime Pays, and nothing feels different. It didn’t elevate his status. Now one is saying the words “classic” or even that Crime Pays is the best album of 2009 (Okay, maybe Cam’ron/DipSet stans). And while sales should never really equal the success of the actual music, now there are reports coming out that Crime Pays will move around 40-45k units (How many videos has Cam put out now?). Now, I’m not saying Cam’ron’s career is done; not by a long shot. Those numbers aren’t bad but it’s almost the same as Jim Jones’ last album (Pary For Reign). Maybe Eminem’s return overshadowed Crime Pays. Maybe people want the Diplomats back together. But at the end of the day: Do you really care that Cam’ron is back? You know the drill. Vote. Oh, and if you haven’t checked out King Jerm’s Crime Pays review, do that too.

Cam’ron returns to the game after taking some time away to tend to family business with his sixth solo album titled Crime Pays. The man that was the leader of one of Hip-Hop’s most followed crews, the Diplomats, set A LOT of trends rapping with their slang and their style. Now that they are not together (NO HOMO) anymore, can Killa go from being LeBron to one man show role like D-Wade? If you ask me right now, I would have to say YES, but all that could change by the end of the album. Let’s find out!

Crime Pays Intro
Produced by Skitzo
Cam comes out the gate over some nice production just doing him. By that I mean just simply rapping and give you some comedic lines. So far so good.

Cookin’ Up
Produced by I.N.F.O & NOVA
Once again Cam looks like he hasn’t missed a step and still can spit like he did in the DipSet days. If you really think about it, Cam was Jeezy before Jeezy. That is exactly what Cam was bringing on this track.

Where I Know You From
Produced by Skitzo
Just when I made a Jeezy reference, this next song sounds just like “Get Ya Mind Right”. Don’t get it twisted, Cam put his own twist on it. I really like the hook on this one where Cam is injecting a new word into the vernacular: “Scrams”. CHECK FOR THIS ONE.

Fuck Cam #1 (Skit)
You know Cam always have the intros where he goes for the comedy.

Never Ever
Produced by Skitzo
This is one of those fun songs that Cam makes that we give him a pass for. I mean when you make songs like this, can I really take you serious? Is Cam’ron always this funny?

Curve
Produced by ARAAB Muzik & Skitzo
I notice the production on this one is DOPE. Cam is “doing him” but the way he rides the beat, got me nodding my head over here. By the way, Cam added “curve” to the hood vernacular. The song is pretty tight.

Silky (No Homo)
Produced by Skitzo
See this is another one of those fun songs that works for Cam, but we would bury someone else for trying to do. This song would have been dope had it been a DipSet group song, but Cam kept your interest through the whole song alone.

Get It In Ohio
Produced by ARAAB Muzik
This was the second “single” off the album that had the Midwest on smash. I’m not even from the area, but this song gets me hype. I do have a question: what does a gyro look like? Cam…really? DOPE SONG!

Who
Produced by Skitzo
This might be one of my favorite tracks off the album. The beat is SICK on this one. Then Cam is out there “doing him” with lines like this: “Got Louie kicks like a checkerboard/Will smack you/Then check your broad”. I can’t help but laugh and nod my head at the same time.

Grease (Skit)
Cam on the phone with some girl talking about taking dumps on each other’s property. The Set stay with the comedy!

You Know What’s Up
Featuring C.O. & Sky-Lyn; Produced by Skitzo
This song isn’t that bad, I have heard worse, it just takes too long to get to the rapping. They lose you in the first minute with all that singing. Cam puts up a respectable verse, but it’s too late because the feeling is gone.

Spend The Night
Produced by ARAAB Muzik
We have another one of those “fun” songs from Cam, but this one has Cam singing on some High School Musical steelo. He has some funny one liners, but I can’t fully vouch for this song.

Fuck Cam #2 (Skit)
Another skit where Cam hates on his own self.

Woo Hoo
Featuring 40 Cal & Byrd Lady; Produced by Skitzo
I can’t keep giving passes for Cam “doing him”, but this one is on the comedic side. I know that wasn’t the aim, but that is the way the album has turned.

Chalupa
Produced by ARAAB Muzik
Cam knows how to take a down south beat and put an up north twist on it to make it bump in both places. I really like this beat on this one, it simple but dope. Another new word has been added: “Chalupa”. Listen to the song and figure out how to use it.

Cookies-N-Apple Juice
Featuring Byrd Lady & Skitzo; Produced by Skitzo
Cam goes at the south with this one, but I’m not mad at him. For the record, I don’t not know what “Cookies N Apple Juice” means, but hopefully someone can clear this up for me. The beat bangs and I’m sure a dance will accompany this one. Check here for the video.

My Job
Produced by Skitzo
This was the first “single” off the album that got everyone checking for Cam. The song is one that everyone can relate to and it goes along with the current economic hardships that are affecting the world. DOPE SONG!

Homicide
Produced by Skitzo
Cam takes the simple beat and does his thing over it. This song isn’t anything special, just Cam “doing him”. Real Cam’ron fans will like this, but the average listener probably will not.

Fuck Cam #3 (Skit)
Same thing as the other ones.

Got It For Cheap
Featuring Skitzo; Produced by YH
This sounds like some old DipSet music, but it just seems like Cam said this on eight other songs. The song isn’t terrible, it just seems like we have been here before, and the hook is annoying!

Get It Get It
Produced by Skitzo
Cam finally raps about someone other than Cam’ron. He actually gets personal (kind of) but after all the comedy it is kind of hard to take Cam serious. The song is on the boring side.

Bottom Of The Pussy
Produced by Skitzo
Cam apologizes for hitting the bottom in this song. The song says it all, nothing to say here.

Fuck Cam #4 (Skit)
The last installment of the self hate fest. Call me crazy, but I think this was a shot at Dame.

Bottom Line:
This album was pretty good for Cam’ron. This is not a diss at Cam at all, because I like Cam’s music. I think Cam has little to no subject matter. He spit lyrics, some of them that don’t make sense, but his “swag” gets him by. Cam’s delivery gets him further than any lyrics that he says. Cam is a “Swag Rapper”; he might have even invented the art form. Rappers like this don’t give you much to work on except for good beats and nice punch lines. Cam is a vet in Hip-Hop and he did both of those on this album. The only knock is that at times it showed that he was out there just saying anything that came to mind. The album will satisfy the die hards, but it won’t stay in heavy rotation like some of his older works.

nappyPicks: “Where I Know You From”, “Curve”, “Get It In Ohio”, “Who”, & “My Job”

Download: Cam’ron – “Who”

Classic Week is going good so far huh? I thought for this week’s edition of Song of the Week, we would stop keep hitting you over the head with older stuff and check out some songs that recently came out.

One song that popped out of nowhere is Kanye & T-Pain’s “Flight School”. All auto-tune jokes aside; that shit is kind of hot (That makes two songs I really like by Pain & West). I guess Kanye wanted to show people he could still rap (“These last years been a haze like Isaac, so I close my eyes tighter than Asian I get…”). Does anybody know whose album this is going on? Kanye was also featured on a new song by The Dream, but I didn’t care for that one at all.

I also heard Ricky Ross & Birdman’s new song “Shittin’ On Them” featuring Busta Rhymes (Happy 45th B-Day by the way Birdman.). This is supposedly from the collabo album they have been talking about for a minute. I was surprised that I liked it; the beat (Especially the beat!) and hook on this one goes in. I may be curious about The H Bald Eagles Fly High that album now.

Cam’ron’s back! I guess this whole column is about me being surprised or proven wrong because I’m actually feeling most of the stuff he’s come out with since his return. Be it “I Hate My Job” or “I Used To Get In Ohio” or even “Cookies & Apple Juice” (Especially his skit with The Real). I don’t know, I usually hate most of Cam’s shit, but maybe Hip-Hop needs him? (Okay, “need” is such a strong word)

Download: Kanye West feat. T-Pain – “Flight School”
Download: Rick Ross & Birdman feat. Busta Rhymes – “Shittin’ On Them”
Download: Cam’ron – “I Used To Get It In Ohio”
Download: Cam’ron – Cookies & Apple Juice”

When I mentioned Paid In Full last week, I had no idea that I was gonna post it up this week (Back to back Cam’ron? Damn!). But I can’t front, this was actually a good movie. I’m a little under the weather today, so I’m not gonna talk type you to death.  Summary:

In the 80’s, in Harlem, the simple African-American worker of a laundry, Ace (Wood Harris), is seduced by the easy money of his friend Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) and when Mitch is arrested, he becomes a drug lord. Later, her joins Mitch and his new-friend Rico (Cam’ron) as his right arms, ruling the neighborhood. His kingdom is destroyed one year later, after successive betrayals.

“No champagne, no rice!” (Extra points if anybody can tell me what scene that’s from). Enjoy the movie folks…

Paid In Full

With the recent re-apperance of Cam’ron, I thought it was good as time as any to showcase one of the most unintentionally funniest hood films ever: Killa Season. Like most straight to DVD rapper flicks, Killa Season is full of bad acting, low quality camera work, and a tired overdone plot…

Flea was a basketball player, happy with his subtle hustle, until a Dominican connect introduced him to a new way to spread the work and make all the cake. Flea assembles his friends and decides to play it big by taking over a store and hustling’ on the corner selling drugs to whoever got money. But with more money and power also comes drama and chaos ensues when some local criminals try to bring him down.

But then again, you don’t watch films like this hoping to get Citizen Kane. I think a lotta people were expecting a movie more like the last movie Cam’ron was in Paid In Full (Which wasn’t bad at all with Cam doing a great job as Alpo). But like I said before, I find Killa Season hilarious! From Cam pissing on a dude during a dice game (Where he constantly says “No homo”) to the total jacking of the Belly sex scene that features Taral Hicks & DMX (Why?) to the jab at Mase in the beginning, there’s tons of enjoyment.

I also guess this is also a chance for you Diplomats fans to sit, watch, and cry about how it used to be. Hell Rell, Juelz, and others DipSet member’s make bad acting appearances (Actually, Jim Jones doesn’t act in the film so maybe the fallout was already happening). So if you never seen this movie (I staring at you King Jerm), grab you popcorn and get ready to laugh.

Killa is back! Not to say I’m too excited. Cam’ron finally comes out of hiding and breaks his silence in the next issue of XXL. Two back to back Diplomat covers? I guess it seems only right since Jim Jones, Juelz, & Zekey are in this month’s issue talking about the internal problems in DipSet (See that cover here). I guess Cam is trying to make a push back to the spotlight since he just released a video for his new song “I Hate My Job”.

Jay-Z/ Roc-a-fella
Bleek, Freeway, and Beans never really made it over the hump, but I’ll give you Kanye.

Eminem/ Shady
D-12 were looked at as a novelty, and Obie had the lyrics, but was catering to the wrong audience.

50 Cent/ G-Unit
Curtis and the Unit are more popular than the Set, but 50 always was at the top, never on the side.

Fat Joe/ Terror Squad
Come on, Joey was barely even making it. Cuban Link and Remy are irrelevant now.

Check out some of these videos and tell me that the Dips were not the hottest crew out at the time:

Let’s not forget the best performance at The Source Awards.

Check out Cam in this video

After seeing the response of my last column, I decided to bring it back again. This time we are discussing why Hip-Hop needs Cam’ron. I know a lot of you are shaking your heads right now, but trust me, WE NEED CAM! That is what has been missing over the last year. A lack of Cam spells a lull in Hip-Hop, and he might just be what the doctor ordered to get the game going back in the right direction.

1. Swagger is at an all time low. With all these rappers talking about “Swagger Like Us”, no one has swagger like Cam! We all know Cam invented “Swag Rap” so how can they have swag if they don’t have Cam? Maybe Jay needs to holler at Cam for his version of “Swagger Like Us” if he really wants to do big numbers. Cam used to rock seven chains at any given time with a purple mink coat, with some fur lined Air Force Ones, and driving a purple Lambo! Now who has swagger like that?

2. Rappers need a makeover. Look at the current trend in Hip-Hop, you have the “Rockstar” look, the “Hipster” look, and you got that “80’s” look, but neither one of these styles can compare to the style that Cam brings to the table. Who else had the hardest dude on the block wearing pink? In fact, who is the reason that pink became fashionable for guys? Cam is the answer to both of those questions. Dudes wasn’t wearing purses when Cam was the “epitome” of fashion in Hip-Hop!

3. There isn’t any comedy in Hip-Hop anymore. You people remember when Cam was beefing with someone. Why was that some of the funniest material you ever heard? “How is a camel riding another Camel?” Or this one: “you look like a gorilla with rabbit teeth!” Say what you will about Cam and his rhymes, but the guy comes with straight comedy to his foes. Remember when he had O’Reilly all hot under the collar on his own show. “You mad…you mad…you mad!” The game needs this humor again.

I gave you my reasons why we need Cam’ron, and I hope he is reading this and gearing up for his big comeback. After hearing some of his latest material, I hope he takes it back to the blueprint on what made him a household name in the first place. Cam if you are listening…WE NEED YOU BACK! COME BACK AND SAVE HIP-HOP!

Dipset has a fiercely loyal fan base. I can’t lie though, outside of Juelz, I don’t really dig most of them. They are pretty damn entertaining though. They rep hard for each other and that’s wassup. So, we have another offering from JR Writer who seems to never leave the studio. Is he making the most of his time, or wasting tracks? Let’s find out….

It’s Like A Jungle
Produced by Spectacular
Writer comes in riding a smooth ass laid back groove. The title pays homage to the classic “It’s Like A Jungle” but does little beyond the name to praise the song. Nothing more than a simile flip song over a decent groove. It gets boring by the end of the song and seems to set the tone for the album to stall out the gate.

Hate On Me
Produced by Mec-One Productions
A SICK rendition of the hook from The Who’s song, “Love, Reign O’er Me” is the backdrop to this track, only flipping it to say “Hate On Me”. This shit is dope as hell despite an odd change in the background chord. I can’t wait to hear the freestyles over this shit. Anyway JR does alright as he keeps it Dipset with the swagga splashin’ on this track that should have been the first song.

Come With Me (Freestyle)
Produced by Heatmakerz
The Heatmakerz have produced tracks for Weezy, Juelz, CL Smooth, N.O.R.E, and Cormega chime in and offer up a decent track. Lyrically, JR talks about everything and nothing and all points between including him saying “Once I shit on a nigga, he neva gonna smell the same”. Wow….overall, I’m not impressed with this one.

Change
Produced by IKD
We get a lot more melodic track that features some ill chords and a chior inspired “ah ah” chant in the background. The base of the track sounds like some 8-bit Nintendo music, but it works quite well. “Duck hunt with all these birds in the game”. A hint I guess.Ha! “If I was Superman the S would be a dollar sign.” Me too fam, me too.

Serious B.I.
Produced by Trackdealerz
I think it may be a Beatles or Monkeys sound bite (I’m pretty sure I’m way off) for the intro, but the track is fantastic. It is, however, a victim of the same bug that bites this entire album, it’s too damn short (see bottom line). This could very well be the best track on the album, and it is nothing more than a lyrical interlude. Damn shame.

Dimelo
produced by M.Dot Murda
M.Dot Murda, who most recently did some tracks on the Gangsa Grillz album, brings us this Latin influenced track complete with mariachi horns. “Dimelo” is a Dominican word that, loosely translated (ie I googled) means “tell me about it” or “What’s good”.  Now, with that understanding, this song makes no fucking sense. I think he just grabbed a dictionary and started to rhyme any word that made sense. “Blow me like a hankerchief?” That’s not gangsta. Dimelo with that?

Do Dat
Produced by GM Productions
Look, I try my best to be productive, but if you are producing a dance/club track and it’s not a banger, then it’s worthless. “Do Dat” does nothing for me. SKIP.

Let It Rain
Produced by Dame Grease
Goon Music got 1 star as Dame stepped in the booth and played rapper. However, on the boards, he has been a part of a 3 and 4 star rating (Sheek Louch & Freeway).  So, what does he give us on this track…from the boards? 4 STARS. The track is incessant with the “Let It Rain” chant and the anthemesque (new word) quality of the synth and bass.  Again, JR offers up some lazy ass lyrics; I let it rain, who gonna rain check me/I keep a bucketful, I ain’t talkin’ bout KFC. I could offer up more, but you get the point.

Uptown Girl
Produced by Spectacular
With his teeth in the Billy Joel classic by the same name, Spectacular produces a fun track infused with the bounce. This is a song for the ladies, it was about time right? Shout out to all the uptown girls. Clocking in at 1:52, there isn’t much to say, if I type much more it will be longer than the damn song.

Killer Crack
Produced by B-Rocc & Piff Perweiler
When it comes to this rap, I’m a Silverback/I got gorilla raps/Grab ya’self an ice cold drink and chill with that / ………these cats harmless/They look like shit/Look at me, I’m the shit. I’m starting to see right through JR Writers wordplay. I try not to expect lyricism from everyone, but damn, you gotta try harder than that.

How You Want It
Featuring Fred Money; Produced by Hood Ghanndi
No sooner than I ridicule him, he comes with some better lyrics. The track is…myspace-ish, but it’s not bad. The sound quality is great and it’s layered and busy, in a good way. It has a haunted house quality to it; Castelvania style. The hook is hard as hell though; How you want it bitch/Nigga/(4x) I be with the gutta clique/A hundred guns, a hundred clips/Sit you in a fuckin’ ditch/So tell me how you want it bitch … It’s hard to listen to this shit and not feel like punchin’ someone in the face. The beat is hard and hype and is a certified banger. He clearly knew it this time as this is the longest song on the entire album. Fred comes on and gives us a little more delivery quality with his flow, but the “I’m on your ass like hemorrhoids line “rendered the rest of his flow mute to me.  Song still will break necks.

You Know I’m Nice
Produced by YH
YH loves the keyboard. I am speculating but when you hear this track, you will agree. Chords…chords…and chords. Loop. Chords…loop. It’s really a simple track that has its most interesting moment around the 1:50 mark when JR ain’t rappin’. Sad part is that the track is only 2:07 long. By this point, I am very biased against JR’s style so you may want to stop reading this review right here. Just skip to the bottom line.

We Ride Or Die
Produced by Soul Professa
Soul lives up to his name on a very fly track. We get more blizzard, swagga, and Aston talk…oh, and talk of asparagus pockets. Decent…song?

On My Way 2 Space
Produced by Trackdealerz
The track, one word, Ominous. Hands down, the best song on the album. From track to lyrics, this shit is a winner. Soon as I’m finished forensics couldn’t make the trace (nope)/Who you kiddin’ you be singin’ like you Babyface /…I wash these lil’ monkeys up/Now these niggas Bathing Apes/…I step in the ring in reptiles like I’m Jake the Snake. By far some of his best wordplay the entire album. Did I mention the beat is Kah-razy? Cause it is.

Hands Up
Featuring Fred Money; Produced by GL Beats
The build up on this track is dramatic as hell…but then it never seems to cross the mark. It builds and builds and seems like they forgot the bass. On top of that, without something to ground it, the rappers seem to get lost in an orgy of sound…and no one is cumming. JR sounds even less inspired than he has on any other track. Fred’s’ vocals are way too high and lyrics are typical. I guess I’m one of the hatin’ ass bitches he talks about in the song, I’m sure some of you will agree.

Bottom Line:
JR is clearly influence by his label mates and has become a “Cam Santana” hybrid. For those of you who know how to write rhymes, he flips the same sound of each last bar too many times. Like, each song has ONE word to rhyme with. Car, far, bar, star, are, tar, etc. I think there are ways to do this that can come off clever and I realize that in certain settings, but when you only have 2 songs out of 15 that are longer than 3:10 and the average being 2:30-2:40, it starts to sound like a crutch…to me anyway. Speaking of the clock value, most of these songs are so short they don’t have a hook, not as a concept, but as a handicap considering the entire album clocks right at the 40minute mark. Essentially, this is an album that will be the background for a lot of mixtapes in the near future as the tracks are the clear stars on this album. I am POSITIVE I will be considered a hater for this review, so I put on my heat suit. Most Dipset lovers will love this, album as the innanets are a buzz with folks crowning HIM as the best rapper alive. Hey, not me, I’ve read it more than once. Anyway, the beats really do have the ability to carry the album and his funny and clever moments are scattered around just enough to keep you busy.

nappyPicks: “On My Way 2 Space”, “Hate On Me”, “Change”, (most any of these as instrumental are pretty solid)

Download: JR Writer – “On My Way 2 Space”